“The British public will rightly question why some people found guilty of very serious and violent crimes are avoiding going to prison. Victims of crime need
confidence that those guilty of these serious crimes are properly punished. There is a concern that one of the reasons for so many non-custodial sentences for serious offences is to save money. For many of the most heinous offences going to prison is the only appropriate option to both punish and rehabilitate. This Government needs to get a grip on this, and ensure that dangerous and violent crimes are properly dealt with.”

Ends

Persons convicted and sentenced to immediate custody for selected
offence groups at all courts, by sentence length, England and Wales,
2012:"